Product Design
Communitopia is a nonprofit organization in Pittsburgh, PA, that empowers us all to build a climate-friendly, energy-independent society of tomorrow. It provides transformative climate change education that develops today’s climate leaders and advances equitable solutions in the communities, schools, and businesses.
In 2020, Communitopia received a grant to produce three Climate Solutions Kits for youth. Each kit focuses on a climate change issue. Pairing hands-on activity with climate change insights and climate solutions, the kits aim to encourage teens to take climate change actions at home and in the community.
Communitopia worked with Shift to create the whole package—product development, sourcing materials, logo and packaging design, e-commerce set up, website update, video productions, digital marketing campaigns, and PR launch.
Designing and Building the Products
Working collaboratively with Communitopia’s Executive Director and engaged Board of Directors, we identified the hands-on activity and content for each Climate Solutions Kit. To align with Communitopia’s environmental-friendly vision, we strived to print all materials sustainably and locally and source materials and packaging from eco-friendly or local vendors to reduce carbon footprint.
Each kit is geared towards a different educational activity. Take the Zero Waste Kit as an example — we developed an activity booklet with ten hands-on activities, sourced activity materials, and designed a double-sided poster to encourage a zero-waste lifestyle.
User Design
Keeping a younger target audience in mind, we used colors and shapes on the packaging and materials to inspire creativity. We also produced instructional and promotional videos featuring Communotopia’s young Climate Changemakers to accompany the Climate Solutions Kits.
Be a Changemaker with Climate Solutions Kits
The Climate Solutions Kits launched during the holiday season of 2021 with an online shop on Communitopia’s website. Besides being a great holiday gift, the online shop will enable Communtopia to sell the kits beyond the holiday season and establish a new revenue stream for the organization. These kits will also be used in classrooms, group programs, and community events by students and youth. The design, local materials used, and videos help youth learn about climate solutions through hands-on making.
